Deadly Airstrikes Scar Myanmar Villages

The brutal realities of Myanmar’s protracted civil war were once again laid bare by a series of airstrikes carried out by the ruling military junta, which struck civilian gatherings in different parts of the country and left scores of innocent people dead or wounded. In separate incidents in Kachin State and the Magway Region, at least 27 civilians were killed, including women and children, with dozens more injured. Local sources report that many of the wounded remain in critical condition, compounding an already dire humanitarian situation.

The deadliest attack occurred on Thursday evening in Kaung Jar village, within Bhamo Township of Kachin State. According to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), junta aircraft bombed a prayer gathering being held in the courtyard of a private home. Villagers had assembled to prepare for a religious ceremony following the death of a respected elder. Without warning, bombs were dropped from the air, killing 22 people on the spot and injuring at least 28 others, among them several children.

Kaung Jar village is widely known as a refuge for families displaced by fighting in surrounding areas. Residents say the suddenness of the strike left people with no chance to flee. Videos shared on social media after the attack show lifeless bodies strewn inside homes and across open courtyards, with some victims so badly mutilated that identification became difficult.

KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu stated that there were no KIA troops or installations in the village at the time of the attack. He accused the military of deliberately targeting civilians and disregarding the distinction between combatants and non-combatants. “They do not differentiate between enemies and ordinary people,” he said, adding that schools, religious events and public gatherings have increasingly come under attack.

On the same day, another airstrike was reported in Tat Kone village of Aunglan Township in the Magway Region. Local monitoring group Aunglan Information Group said the attack took place while villagers were preparing for a wedding ceremony. At least five people, including a child, were killed, and several others—mostly women engaged in cooking and other preparations—were injured.

Analysts note that in recent months the junta has intensified its reliance on air power, particularly against areas believed to be sympathetic to or controlled by resistance groups. However, these strikes have repeatedly resulted in civilian casualties, prompting rights organisations to warn of grave violations of international humanitarian law.

A snapshot of recent reported airstrikes is outlined below:

These recurring attacks have fostered widespread fear and insecurity among Myanmar’s civilian population. Observers warn that without meaningful and sustained international intervention, the cycle of violence is unlikely to abate, leaving ordinary people to bear the heaviest cost of an increasingly ruthless conflict.